What inverts eat green hair algae?

zacharytrimble · 01/27/2007, 01:46 PM

What inverts clean rock of gha?

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 02:08 PM

I have been experimenting with these cool little fella I catch in the river behind my house (yes, FREE). They are great algae eaters but they are about 1-1.5 inches and are easily spooked by fishes. My yellow wrasse chases them all the time. Either they end up food for him or dried shrimps (on the floor). They are always egg-laden and produce frys nonstop which serve as fish food. If I can only catch my yellow wrasse

I have several in a 10G tank now with LR full of GHA. They really do the job provided no fish spooks them. Cardinals also eat them.

I called my LFS and asked if he can get me a sea hare. Maybe...

reeformadness · 01/27/2007, 02:12 PM

Trochus has done me good

brc0488 · 01/27/2007, 02:24 PM

whisper those look like common ghost shrimp

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brc0488
whisper those look like common ghost shrimp

I don't know what they are called. MY LFS calls them feeder shrimps.

Here's another pic, note the black mass just behind the eyes are the ingested GHA.

reeformadness · 01/27/2007, 02:45 PM

If you wanted to go the shrimp route you can catch grass shrimp just by pushing a little dip net at the water's edge in a marsh. Great cleaners.

reeformadness · 01/27/2007, 02:46 PM

Push the net along the bottom, you should come up with mud and shrimp.

Blazer88 · 01/27/2007, 02:50 PM

Mexican Turbo's are doing magic in my tank right now. They are eating GHA, this red fluffy looking stuff, and this nasty stuff that I can't even pull out by hand.

jimwat · 01/27/2007, 03:19 PM

I've tried just about every critter recommended for HA and my best success has been with the Sea Hare or Urchins.

FYI - http://www.floridapets.com/ sells the ghost shrimp 50 for $10 if you are interested. They also have a good selection of snails, crabs and other critters.

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 03:31 PM

Just bear in mind that these shrimps are predated by cardinals and wrasse (I'm sure there are others) and they are easily spooked and jump out of your tank. I don't think these guys, as much as they love munching on GHA, are suitable for tanks unless you do not have the predatory fishes. Now, again, if I can only catch that sucker wrasse

easttn · 01/27/2007, 03:31 PM

Large Mexican Turbos.

Bono · 01/27/2007, 05:01 PM

I've been battling the same type and will give the ghost shrimp a try as my LFS sells them.

Does anyone have a good picture of Hair Algae and Bryopsis Algae as I've heard it makes a difference to determine what will eat it.

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 05:07 PM

Bono, I see you're also in FL, are u close to the water? Maybe you can just catch them too. My LFS gets them every now and then but I get mine in the backyard reather than buying them.

Make sure you don't have a wrasse or cardinal otherwise you're just going to lose them. I am going to catch the yellow wrasse in the display tank so I can release these guys in there and help me with tankkeeping chores

reeformadness · 01/27/2007, 05:24 PM

You can actually get ghost shrimp too with a plunger going into PVC. Just stick the PVC over the little holes you see on the sea floor and work the PVC down into the sand. Then pull the PVC out and push the sand core into a strainer or seive. You will find all kind of cool inverts, including ghost shrimp. You could probably get by with just using your hand over the top of the PVC to keep the sand in by suction. I've used about 3" PVC for this.

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 05:40 PM

A bunched twig submerged with weight will catch them rather painlessly because they tend to hide from predators in the morning. Just drop the bunched twigs at night and pull it out in the morning and shake it on top of a container and see them drop, no need to strain mud or what not.
Mine mostly eat the algae at night but there are a few who dare eat in the daytime, at least in the 10G tank, knowing that they are safe. Those pics were taken in the daytime in a tank without predator.

61scout80 · 01/27/2007, 07:40 PM

so they are freshwater ghost shrimp? how long will they live in a marine tank?

Whisperer · 01/27/2007, 07:43 PM

I dont really know, but these are hardy. I just toss them in the tank once I catch them and they do fine. I have some in my sump that are still alive. They have been there for at least 2-3 months now and I don't really feed them. they eat the food that are washed off through the overflow.

Tunguska · 01/27/2007, 08:33 PM

Scarlet hermits seem to love HA.

alan214 · 01/27/2007, 08:39 PM

A hearty 2nd to the Trochus snails. They dessimated my hair algae in about 2 weeks.

Bax · 01/28/2007, 07:58 AM

If your HA troubles are really out of hand, you can use a Sea Hare, just be prepared to feed it, or pass it along to another reefer once the HA is gone as they won't last long without a good supply. They are large, about 4" in length, but very delicate feeders, not one coral was harmed in the cleaning of my tank.

Here's mine.

An end view of my tank before the Sea Hare

Similar veiw about two weeks after acclimating the Sea Hare.

.... The King of HA!!

jmick · 01/28/2007, 09:21 AM

In my experience, the only invert that will reliably eat hair algae is a seahare, everything else seems to be hit or miss. I'd treat the source of the problem instead of throwing a bandaid on it.

Bono · 01/28/2007, 10:54 AM

The sea hares that the LFS's in my area are small about 3/4in. Where can you get the big guys.

Bax · 01/28/2007, 11:27 AM

They are at most LFS in my area

Whisperer · 01/28/2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bono
The sea hares that the LFS's in my area are small about 3/4in. Where can you get the big guys.

I requested one medium size at my lfs. He says he sells it for $12, if he gets one. I think that's a good price for something promising.

01/27/2007, 01:46 PM	#1
zacharytrimble Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 456	What inverts eat green hair algae? What inverts clean rock of gha?

01/27/2007, 02:08 PM	#2
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	I have been experimenting with these cool little fella I catch in the river behind my house (yes, FREE). They are great algae eaters but they are about 1-1.5 inches and are easily spooked by fishes. My yellow wrasse chases them all the time. Either they end up food for him or dried shrimps (on the floor). They are always egg-laden and produce frys nonstop which serve as fish food. If I can only catch my yellow wrasse I have several in a 10G tank now with LR full of GHA. They really do the job provided no fish spooks them. Cardinals also eat them. I called my LFS and asked if he can get me a sea hare. Maybe... __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/27/2007, 02:24 PM	#4
brc0488 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: maryland, Columbia Posts: 682	whisper those look like common ghost shrimp __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 55 gallon- 2-55 watt PC's, 1 250 w MH, 10 gal sump w/ Nautilus TE skimmer

01/27/2007, 03:19 PM	#9
jimwat Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,270	I've tried just about every critter recommended for HA and my best success has been with the Sea Hare or Urchins. FYI - http://www.floridapets.com/ sells the ghost shrimp 50 for $10 if you are interested. They also have a good selection of snails, crabs and other critters. __________________ "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer." Current Tank Info: 65 gal with 192w PC 10k, 192w VHO actinic, Blue-Moon LED, Tunze 6060 on WavySea, AquaController 3. 20gal sump, Natureef CDECX-1, Phosban Reactor, Remora, Kalk Drip, Ozone.

01/27/2007, 03:31 PM	#10
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Just bear in mind that these shrimps are predated by cardinals and wrasse (I'm sure there are others) and they are easily spooked and jump out of your tank. I don't think these guys, as much as they love munching on GHA, are suitable for tanks unless you do not have the predatory fishes. Now, again, if I can only catch that sucker wrasse __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/27/2007, 02:12 PM	#3
reeformadness Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 650	Trochus has done me good

01/27/2007, 02:45 PM	#6
reeformadness Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 650	If you wanted to go the shrimp route you can catch grass shrimp just by pushing a little dip net at the water's edge in a marsh. Great cleaners.

01/27/2007, 02:46 PM	#7
reeformadness Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 650	Push the net along the bottom, you should come up with mud and shrimp.

01/27/2007, 02:50 PM	#8
Blazer88 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,415	Mexican Turbo's are doing magic in my tank right now. They are eating GHA, this red fluffy looking stuff, and this nasty stuff that I can't even pull out by hand.

01/27/2007, 03:31 PM	#11
easttn Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East TN thank God Posts: 2,423	Large Mexican Turbos. __________________ HONOR.......Simply put, A VETERAN - whether Active Duty, Retired, National Guard or Reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "Up to and including my life." That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand that. --Author Unknown-- Current Tank Info: Maintenance Free

01/27/2007, 05:01 PM	#12
Bono Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lakewood Ranch Fl. Posts: 872	I've been battling the same type and will give the ghost shrimp a try as my LFS sells them. Does anyone have a good picture of Hair Algae and Bryopsis Algae as I've heard it makes a difference to determine what will eat it. __________________ Living it up in Florida Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 300lbs LR, Aquamaxx Skimmer, 3x Reefbreeders LED's & T5's.

01/27/2007, 05:07 PM	#13
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Bono, I see you're also in FL, are u close to the water? Maybe you can just catch them too. My LFS gets them every now and then but I get mine in the backyard reather than buying them. Make sure you don't have a wrasse or cardinal otherwise you're just going to lose them. I am going to catch the yellow wrasse in the display tank so I can release these guys in there and help me with tankkeeping chores __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/27/2007, 05:24 PM	#14
reeformadness Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 650	You can actually get ghost shrimp too with a plunger going into PVC. Just stick the PVC over the little holes you see on the sea floor and work the PVC down into the sand. Then pull the PVC out and push the sand core into a strainer or seive. You will find all kind of cool inverts, including ghost shrimp. You could probably get by with just using your hand over the top of the PVC to keep the sand in by suction. I've used about 3" PVC for this.

01/27/2007, 05:40 PM	#15
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	A bunched twig submerged with weight will catch them rather painlessly because they tend to hide from predators in the morning. Just drop the bunched twigs at night and pull it out in the morning and shake it on top of a container and see them drop, no need to strain mud or what not. Mine mostly eat the algae at night but there are a few who dare eat in the daytime, at least in the 10G tank, knowing that they are safe. Those pics were taken in the daytime in a tank without predator. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/27/2007, 07:40 PM	#16
61scout80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado, Maricopa, AZ Posts: 449	so they are freshwater ghost shrimp? how long will they live in a marine tank?

01/27/2007, 07:43 PM	#17
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	I dont really know, but these are hardy. I just toss them in the tank once I catch them and they do fine. I have some in my sump that are still alive. They have been there for at least 2-3 months now and I don't really feed them. they eat the food that are washed off through the overflow. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/27/2007, 08:33 PM	#18
Tunguska Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tuscaloosa Posts: 288	Scarlet hermits seem to love HA.

01/27/2007, 08:39 PM	#19
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	A hearty 2nd to the Trochus snails. They dessimated my hair algae in about 2 weeks. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

01/28/2007, 07:58 AM	#20
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	If your HA troubles are really out of hand, you can use a Sea Hare, just be prepared to feed it, or pass it along to another reefer once the HA is gone as they won't last long without a good supply. They are large, about 4" in length, but very delicate feeders, not one coral was harmed in the cleaning of my tank. Here's mine. An end view of my tank before the Sea Hare Similar veiw about two weeks after acclimating the Sea Hare. .... The King of HA!! __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz

01/28/2007, 09:21 AM	#21
jmick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bartlett, il Posts: 402	In my experience, the only invert that will reliably eat hair algae is a seahare, everything else seems to be hit or miss. I'd treat the source of the problem instead of throwing a bandaid on it.

01/28/2007, 10:54 AM	#22
Bono Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lakewood Ranch Fl. Posts: 872	The sea hares that the LFS's in my area are small about 3/4in. Where can you get the big guys. __________________ Living it up in Florida Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 300lbs LR, Aquamaxx Skimmer, 3x Reefbreeders LED's & T5's.

01/28/2007, 11:27 AM	#23
Bax Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,619	They are at most LFS in my area __________________ 150 gallon Perfecto with 1500 gph GH overflow / DIY stand-wine bar / Dart Return / SRO XP3000 Ext skimmer / 75 g frag / 40 g fuge / 40 g DIY sump / Orphek P156 & Kessil 150A Current Tank Info: 150 DT/ 40B fuge/ 75g frag/ 40 g sump/ SRO XP 3000 Ext/ TUNZEs & VorTechs circulation/Dart return/ MTC Pro Cal/ UV & Oz